Thomas wins human rights award

Mark Thomas has won an award for his championing of human rights.

Thomas shares the Global Human Rights Defender award, presented by aid charity International Service has announced with Sigrid Rausing, a women’s rights campaigner.

His citation said the award was “for using his skills and talent so intelligently to raise public awareness of human rights abuses at home and abroad”.

One of the judges said: “Something I have always believed in is ‘do what you can to make a difference’ – and he has done that brilliantly”.

Thomas’s current live show highlights the work of trade unionists in Third World countries, whose fights for decent working conditions are met with hostility, intimidation – and even death.

Also honoured in the awards are Esther Chavez, a campaigner for women’s rights in Mexico, Audrey Bomse for her work in Jerusalem, and the charity Rights and Action on Disability and Development West Africa for its work against Aids.

The winners will be handed their accolades by Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow at a House of Commons ceremony later this month.

Published: 1 Nov 2004